Daily Devotional with Oswald ChambersBased on the Book: 'My Utmost For His Highest' (The
Golden Book of Oswald Chambers,1935) by Oswald Chambers

The Explanation For Our Difficulties

". . . that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us . . ." - John 17:21

If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17
. It will explain exactly why you are where you are— because Jesus has prayed
that you “may be one” with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer
that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a
disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.

God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but
that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer
which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “. . . that they may be
one just as We are one . . .” (John 17:22 ). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as
that?

God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through
this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these
things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us
sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical
and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen
either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our
relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our
own lives, “Your will be done” ( Matthew 26:42 ), then we will be encouraged and
comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own
wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God’s purpose, we will
not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than
absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us
are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with
Him— because Jesus prayed, “. . . that they all may be one . . . .”